How do the "restrict not" and "ignore" search statements differ?

A restrict not statement will exclude from a client’s bid matches any solicitation containing a specified phrase or word, FSG category, agency name, etc., even if that solicitation also contains one or more of the key-terms listed in that profile. For example, if one of your clients sells Apple computers and electronic accessories and you do not want their profile to match on bid opportunities for fruit or produce, you could use the statement restrict not (cat:89 and apple). This would exclude any solicitation that contained the word "apple" if the solicitation was categorized under FSG 89 (subsistence (food)).

You need to be extremely cautious when using restrict not statements in your profiles; they may exclude much more than you intended. For example, a restrict not statement on a broad term such as "fax" could inadvertently eliminate any solicitation with a fax number referenced in the bid summary.

Like a restrict not statement, an ignore statement can exclude solicitations containing a specified phrase or word. However, ignore statements are more forgiving than restrict not statements because they don't automatically rule out a solicitation when an ignore term is found. Instead, the other key-terms in a profile are still searched for and if any are found, the solicitation is delivered to your client. In other words, an ignore statement is only applied if a solicitation contains the specified ignore word or phrase and does not reference any other key-terms in the profile. For example, if one of your clients sells potato chips and you do not want chocolate chips to be the sole reason for their profile to match on a solicitation, you could use the statement ignore chocolate<1u>chips.

Whenever possible, use ignore statements in preference to restrict not statements because they are less likely to exclude on valid matches. The restrict not statement is ideal for wide-reaching, absolute exclusions, but ignore statements are generally better for excluding mismatching phrases.

For more information on search profile logic, download the Bid Match Guide PDF, which provides a comprehensive discussion of the entire Bid Match program.

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